Chuseok's Four Free Days: Seoul's Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Open Without Charge

For four days, from September 24 to 27, during Korea's Chuseok holiday, Seoul's four main royal palaces and the royal shrine Jongmyo will open free of charge. "Palaces" here means the royal residences where Korean kings actually lived and governed during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897). Visitors who would normally pay admission can walk in for free these four days, even without wearing hanbok, Korea's traditional dress.

Jongmyo is the shrine housing the memorial tablets of Joseon's kings and queens, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is normally open only through scheduled guided tours, but for these four holiday days visitors can walk through freely without booking ahead.

Wearing hanbok normally earns free entry to the four palaces year-round, but not just any combination counts. Officials require a jeogori (a traditional jacket with a collar) paired with a proper skirt or trousers — hanbok pants with an ordinary T-shirt, or a jeogori over jeans, does not qualify on a normal day. During these four holiday days, however, the dress-code requirement is waived entirely and any clothing gets you in free.

Paid evening programs such as Gyeongbokgung's Saenggwabang and Byeolbit Yahaeng, or Changdeokgung's Moonlight Tour, still require separate reservations and fees — they are not part of this free opening, so don't confuse the two. Palace grounds offer little shade, so midday sun can be intense, and arriving early in the morning means shorter lines during the holiday crowds.